alternative set of postures

[Guest guest]

A new exercise program with alternative set of

postures seems not to be against a ‘systematized asana

practice’like Asthanga yoga . <br>Way do I have the feeling ,

if I ask for alternative set of postures , that I am

from a other planet ?<br><br>Philipp

[Guest guest]

Althought it may be not 100% percent technically

correct, I would agree with Sunshine, that hatha yoga is

"physical yoga" (the practice of asanas) as opposed to

karma yoga (yoga of work), bhakti yoga (yoga of

love/devotion), etc. And in the world of hatha yoga there are

many styles, such as Ashtanga, Bikram, Iyengar,

Kundalini, etc. One of the chief characteristics of Ashtanga

is that it is very systematized, with a very

definite set of postures done in a very definite order.

But I would agree that it is not "against the system"

to practice alternate postures or to also exercise

or practice yoga in other ways. I'm not sure what

you are getting at though. If you just want some

variety, you can mix up the postures however you want,

adding in some from other series, leaving some out, etc.

Or maybe you are ready to move on to working on

intermediate series. Many people practice different series on

different days. You may want to check out an Iyengar class

or get a video tape or two of other types of yoga

workouts. If by alternative, you mean that some of the

postures are too dificult and you need variations that are

more appropriate, all of the postures can be modified.

I just got an excellent book by Gary Kraftsow

called Yoga for Wellness, which has many details on how

to modify yoga postures and how to construct

sequences appropriate for an individual. If you just want

to break out of the strict Ashtanga yoga thing now

and then and maybe try something really different,

there are many very serious physical regimens that

could be useful. I have been enjoying working with

Callanetics (I recommend the first video - Callanetics). Also

weight training can be good. Pilates is interesting

(books and videos available). I just got a really cool

book called Beyond Stretching by a Russian guy name

Pavel Tsatsoline. Godfrey Devereux's books are also

great. He is a master of Ashtanga yoga but he doesn't

seem to think there is only one way to practice. You

may want to say a bit more about what you mean by

alternative set of postures.

[Guest guest]

Hi TLSlade<br>I thank you for your messages . It

is very kind of you to write so much about my

question . I will bay the books you have advised .<br>

<br>You are right I must specify more my question .

<br>Asthanga yoga is a very power full system for the mind .

We feel a lot of sense by practicing the asanas .

<br>By practicing I have the feeling that my mind is

asking for more difficulties and to bee more free and

more excited . But my body can’t follow . <br>I have

tried out to alternate the exercises . I have find out

tow things : a) alternate the exercises without the

connecting (sun salutation )exercise it to easy for the mind

.. b) My body can’t practice so often the sun

salutation . <br><br>Maybe I must ask if there is a easier

connecting exercise . <br>I will thank you again .

<br>Philipp

[Guest guest]

Some would say if you leave out the vinyasas

(connecting exercise) and don't do the sun salutations, then

you really aren't doing ashtanga yoga. But that's OK.

All yoga is good. But I think that if you are trying

to do ashtanga yoga and it is very difficult, then

anything you do to be able to work at it is good and could

still be considered practicing ashtanga yoga. I

recently quit going to classes after realizing that I need

to slow down and pay more attention to my body. I

have also developed some problems in my hands and

wrists (I think from using lawn mowers and weedeaters)

which has made it very difficult to do vinyasas and

salutations. The sun salutations are very important and

shouldn't just be skipped. (Some people practice nothing

but the salutations) You can break them down and work

on each part. You can even try to do just one a day.

And you can skip all the vinyasas if you want. I

think in most ashtanga classes, the teacher would say

to skip a vinyasa anytime if you need to. As long as

you are working on yoga, it should all get easier

eventually. I think for most people strict ashtanga is really

tough but I think it is something that people should be

able to do, so I think of primary series ashtanga yoga

as a goal to work towards. The Gary Kraftsow book is

really great - he explains a lot about how to make

postures easier to do. David Swenson's book on Ashtanga

yoga has some ideas on how to make vinyasas easier to

do. And I would recommend Godfrey's Devereux's

Dynamic Yoga and 15-Minute Yoga. I think the important

thing is just to work on it everyday (and keep studying

and work with teachers when you can).